Written By:

Hailey Hunter is a sports broadcaster and producer with a passion for growing the game of golf for women. She was captain of her college golf team at Ohio University graduating from their top ranked Scripps School of Journalism.

The week at the LPGA Kia Classic was a busy one filled with incredible adventures in the beautiful city of Carlsbad, California. While the tournament itself hosted more than enough activities and events to keep me busy at the golf course and hotel throughout the week, I managed to fit some time in to explore the city of Carlsbad which is without a doubt a destination to add to the very top of your bucket list.

Let’s take a look at some of our highlights around the green from this week!

Relax with a day at the Spa

The spa at Park Hyatt Aviara has been awarded a Forbes Five Star rating, which is no surprise based on it’s luxurious amenities and friendly staff. The spa features 20 treatment rooms, a luxurious couple’s suite, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, locker and dressing areas, and a modern work out room.

Pro-Tip: Before a treatment, take a visit to the Solarium room to relax. You’ll enjoy tasty treats including fruit, granola, muffins, and specialty tea while you take in the ambiance of a peaceful fountain and palm tree views while lounging in one of their many comfy chairs.

Visit the Wildlife

The San Diego Zoo is a local hot spot for visitors to the southern California. The zoo houses over 3,700 animals of more than 650 species and subspecies. It’s also one of the few zoos in the world which houses and successfully breeds the giant panda.

A few LPGA players were joined by the Founders of Women With Drive Nikki B. and Tisha Allen, who quickly learned just how much LPGA Tour player Tiffany Joh loves sloths.

Take a look for yourself:

Talking on Tour

In preparation for a campaign the LPGA will kick-off this Summer, we had the chance to sit down with Tour players to learn more about their story of invitation to golf and how they got started with the game. All of the ladies we spoke with started at a young age, most of whom were introduced to the game by their dads.

Be on the lookout for our full interviews with Paula Creamer, Lydia Ko, Cheyenne Woods, and Olafia Kristinsdottir this August.

Riding the Waves with Tiffany Joh

It’s should come as no surprise that San Diego has a huge surfing scene. What will surprise you however is that the Park Hyatt Aviara offers a unique “Surfing with the Chef” experience, offering a one-of-a-kind outing with the hotel’s renowned Chef Pierre Albaladejo who will prepare a breakfast for you to enjoy at the beach while you take surf lessons.

Resident sloth lover, and surfing aficionado Tiffany Joh decided to take advantage of the unique offering and took us along for the ride. It was a cold day for surfing, but that didn’t bother Tiffany!

Surfing is so much like golf in that it requires both persistence and patience to get good at it, which Tiffany likes. Despite considering herself a “27-handicap” when it comes to surfing, her excursion landed her on the cover of the San Diego Times Union’s sports section. You can read the full story here here.

Flowers…and more flowers

As soon as you drive into the city of Carlsbad, you are blown away by the breathtaking views of the mountains and ocean. Another view that is an absolute must-see however are the area’s famous Flower Fields.

It’s an incredible feast for the eyes and one that is hard to capture even in photographs. The fields are filled with color, playing home to more than 200,000 rananculus plants per acre and has over 50 acres of flowers. The fields are a great family friendly environment with tons to do for kids of all ages. Take in the view, run up and down the maze of flowers, or hop on the wagon ride for a grand tour of the property.

#PWRSHAPE Launch Party with Puma Golf

Puma’s #PWRSHAPE launch party was hosted at the top of the range at Aviara Golf Club and was an exciting night for ladies who attended the event. LPGA player Lexi Thompson started the night off with a Q and A session before taking a few swings on the range. Lexi’s favorite club is the driver, but how couldn’t it be when she is averaging 271.4 yards off the tee?

In addition to the free swag bags and delicious food and drinks, many of the ladies found their way to the nail and eye-brow shaping stations for some pampering and socializing.

Golf as a Business Tool

Another highlight of the week was an empowering and inspiring event hosted for female business professionals. The Women’s Leadership Summit was hosted at the Merit Club and featured an appearance from Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez who took part in the day’s event at the putting clinic and the panel. She was joined by LPGA Teacher and Golf Positive Founder Debbie O’Connell, UL’s Chief Public Safety Officer Barbara Guthrie, and Regional Executive Vice President for AXA Tammy Butts.

The speakers and messages throughout the panel discussion were powerful, and guests were treated to a special discussion from guest speaker and LPGA Tour player Paula Creamer who shared her own personal advice and experiences.

TaylorMade Headquarters

Speaking of using golf as a business tool, metalwood engineer Michelle Penney and manufacturing engineer Jessica Mayers do this well. Both ladies work for TaylorMade at their headquarters in Carlsbad, California. We had the honor of speaking with both of them on being a female in the male-dominated golf industry and how they are hoping to change the game of golf for women in the future. Interviews coming soon to our site!

I’ll take two Kias, please

And finally… if one Kia Motors car wasn’t exciting enough, Eun-Hee Ji found herself wondering how to get two Kia cars to her next tournament this week, the ANA Inspiration. Ji finished with a 67 on the final day to score a total -16 for the tournament to claim her victory at Aviara Golf Cub. In addition, she earned her eighth HOLE-IN-ONE from 166 yards with her trusty seven iron. Eun-Hee sure does make it look easy!

It's the final day of Solheim! Tune into Golf Channel and don't forget to tag us in your photos while watching with the #SolheimWatchParty for a chance to win a signed Solheim Cup flag! ... See MoreSee Less

We’re thrilled to be an inaugural launch partner for Fairygodboss Groups!

Fairygodboss is the largest career community for women, where you can find like-minded professionals to expand your network along with advice for every stage of your career. Even better? It’s 100% free and members can post as themselves or anonymously.

Get connected by joining the LPGA Women’s Network’s new group on Fairygodboss. We’ll be sharing practical advice for busy professionals interested in making their foray into golf through this new space.

How about a tip from a former Solheim Cup Team USA champion herself? Gerina Piller reminds us to not get too caught up in the mechanics and to "perfect what you already have". #FirstTimerFriday ... See MoreSee Less

“We’re away, so there’s that aspect of not necessarily being the underdogs, but the less rooted for… for me it drives me a little more to be like, 'oh I’ll beat you on your soil' kind of situation." ~@megan_khang1023

We're loving @AbbyLiebs and her *Fore the Ladies* golf events! Next up is Jacksonville, Florida!
This is for ALL women. Whether you’ve never picked up a golf club or you’re a seasoned player, it's just $20 to get professional lessons and play 3 holes with the ladies! #inviteHER